Once again, Wilson can’t contend with Roman Catholic’s big-play offense
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Rick Woelfel — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
FORT WASHINGTON — Wilson dug itself a hole it couldn’t escape from. Before the first quarter of Friday night’s season opener against Roman Catholic had concluded the Bulldogs found themselves two scores down.
They chased the Cahillites for the balance of the evening with little success en route to a 49-14 loss at Upper Dublin High School’s Cardinal Stadium.
Chase was the operative word as the Cahillites’ speed caused the Bulldogs’ defense an abundance of difficulties and left them vulnerable to big plays. Five of Roman’s six offensive touchdowns came on plays covering 33 yards or more.
For a defense in retooling, if not rebuilding mode, it was a baptism under live fire.
“Their speed hurt us,” said Wilson coach Doug Dahms. “We’ve got to develop more depth. We’re rotating 20 guys through defensively, and half our guys are playing on both sides of the ball.
Quarterback Tommy Hunsicker shouldered much of the offensive load for the Bulldogs, but he was hampered by the absence of all-league wideout Edison Case, who didn’t play because of a dislocated elbow.
Hunsicker scored his team’s only offensive touchdown on a 15-yard, second-quarter scamper, and generated 209 yards in total offense, 165 in the air. He earned every bit of it; he endured four sacks.
“(Hunsicker) is going to be a big part of our offense,” Dahms said. “He runs well, he throws well. Obviously, we didn’t establish a running game, which hurt us. (Wilson managed just 99 net rushing yards). We have some growing pains with new guys out there because of injuries.”
Hunsicker’s touchdown, which came 10 seconds into the second quarter, brought his team within 13-7 but Dazhaun Hopkins responded with a 46-yard run, his second touchdown of half at the 5:07 mark and the Cahillites enjoyed a two-score edge at the break.
The Bulldogs got a big boost at the 8:17 mark of the third quarter when Jonah Pertet blocked a field goal attempt and took it 77 yards to end the end zone. At that point it was 20-14 and the Bulldogs were very much in the hunt.
Pertet’s return was his team’s last salvo. The Cahillites concluded the evening by scoring four touchdowns in a span of 9 minutes, 41 seconds, draining the Bulldogs of their energy reserves in the process.
Roman quarterback Semaj Beals threw for 264 yards and five touchdowns. Hopkins contributed 113 yards in total offense along with his two scores, one on the ground, one through the air. Tayden Mines caught three balls for 103 yards and two scores.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Wilson | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Roman Catholic | 13 | 7 | 22 | 7 | 49 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Roman | Hopkins 5 pass from Beals(Whittle kick) | 4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roman | Gaddy 72 interception return(kick misseed) | 2:09 |
| 2 | Wilson | T. Hunsicker 15 run (Rada kick) | 11:50 |
| 2 | Roman | Hopkins 46 run (Whittle kick) | 5:07 |
| 3 | Wilson | Pertet 77 blocked field goal return (Rada kick) | 8:17 |
| 3 | Roman | Mines 58 pass from Beals | 7:21 |
| 3 | Roman | Roberts 66 pass from Beals (LoRusso kick) | 2:17 |
| 3 | Roman | Mines 33 pass from Beals(Boyd run) | 0:24 |
| 4 | Roman | Newsuan 51 pass from Beals(Whittle kick) | 9:40 |
| Wilson | Roman Catholic | |
| First downs | 18 | 11 |
| Rushes-yards | 33-99 | 18-144 |
| Passing yards | 165 | 264 |
| Total yards | 264 | 408 |
| Passes | 14-30-1 | 11-22-0 |
| Fumbles-lost | 3-2 | 1-1 |
| Punts-average | 6-32.8 | 3-45.0 |
| Penalties-yards | 6-36 | 10-91 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Wilson: T. Hunsicker 16-44, Akings 10-34, C. Hunsicker1-12, Welmaker 1-8, Fiorini 5-1.
Roman Catholic: Hopkins 13-94, Kingcade 3-42, Stead 1-5, Tabb 1-3.
PASSING
Wilson: T. Hunsicker 14-30-1.
Roman Catholic: Beals 11-22-0.
RECEIVING
Wilson: Valukevich 3-43, Woods 3-22, Hagner 2-71, Akings 2- (-5), Glover 1-14, Grober 1-12, Kline 1-9. Welmaker 1- (-1).
Roman Catholic: Mines 3-103, Hopkins 2-18, Can Brill 2-8, Roberts 1-66, Newsuan 1-51, Boyd 1-13, Woodley 1-5.
INTERCEPTIONS
Roman Catholic: Gaddy.
